the tale of beowulf sometime king of the folk of the weder geats tr by william mottis and aj wyatt...

7/29/2019 The Tale of Beowulf Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats Tr by William Mottis and AJ Wyatt (1898)

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CORNELLUNIVERSITYLIBRARY

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOMEOF THE SAGE ENDOWMENTFUND GIVEN IN 1891 BYHENHY WILLIAMS SAGE


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Cornell University LibraryPR 1583.M87 1898The tale of Beowulf, some^^^^^^^^^

3 1924 013 339 472


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The original of tliis book is intine Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions inthe United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013339472


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WORKS BYWILLIAM MORRIS.

POETICAL WORKS.LIBRARY EDITION.

Complete in Eleven Volumes. Crown 8vo, price 5^. net each.

THE EARTHLY PARADISE. 4 vols. 5^. net each.THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON. 5^. net.THE DEFENCE OF GUENEVERE, and Other Poems. 5J. net.THE STORY OF SIGURD THE VOLSUNG, and the FallOF THE NiBLUNGS. 5^. net.LOVE IS ENOUGH; or, The Freeing of Pharamond: AMoraUty; and POEMS BY THE WAY. 5^. net.THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. Done into English Verse, sj. net.THE iENEIDS OF VIRGIL. Done into English Verse. 5^. net.THE TALE OF BEOWULF, sometime King of the FolkOF THE Wbdergeats. Translated by William Morris andA. J. Wyatt. Crown 8vo, Ss. net.

Certain of the POETICAL WoBKS may also be had in thefollowing Editions

THE EARTHLY PARADISE. Popular Edition. S vols. i2mo,25^. ; or $s. each, sold separately.The same in Ten Farts, 25^. ; or 2S. 6d. each, sold separately.

Cheap Edition, in One Volume. Crown 8vo, 6s. net.POEMS BY THE WAY. Square crown 8vo, 6j.THE LIFE OF WILLIAM MORRIS.

By J. W. Mackail.With 6 Portraits and 16 Illustrations by E. H. New, etc.

2 vols. 8vo, 32J.

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.LONDON, NEW YOFK. AND BOMBAY.


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WORKS BYWILLIAM MORRIS.PROSE WORKS.THE SUNDERING FLOOD. Crown 8vo, ^s. 6d.THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES. Crown 8vo, 7i. 6rf.THE WELL AT THE WORLD'S END. 2 vols. 8vo, aSj.THE STORY OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN, which has been

also called The Land of the Living Men, or The Acre of theUndying. Square post 8vo, 5j. net.THE ROOTS OF THE MOUNTAINS, wherein is told somewhatof the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, their Friends, their Neigh-bours, their Foemen, and their Fellows-in-Arms. Written inProse and Verse. Square crown 8vo, Ss.A TALE OF THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINGS, and all theKindreds of the Mark. Written in Prose and Verse. Squarecrown 8vo, 6s.THE STORY OF GRETTIR THE STRONG. Translated fromthe Icelandic by EirIkr Magnusson and William Morris.Crown 8vo, 5^. net.A DREAM OF JOHN BALL, and A KING'S LESSON. i2mo,IS. 6d.NEWS FROM NOWHERE; or, An Epoch of Rest. Beii^some Chapters from an Utopian Romance. Post 8vo, is, 6d.SIGNS OF CHANGE. Seven Lectures delivered on various Occa-sions. Post 8vo, 4J. 6d.HOPES AND FEARS FOR ART. Five Lectures delivered inBirmingham, London, etc., in 1878-1S81. Crown 8vo, 4^. 6d.

AN ADDRESS delivered at the Distribution of Prizes toStudents of the Birmingham Municipal School of ArtON 2 1ST February 1894. 8vo, 2s. 6d. net.ART AND THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH : a Lecture deUveredat Burslem Town Hall, on October 13, 18S1. 8vo, 2s. 6d. net.SOME HINTS ON PATTERN-DESIGNING : a Lecture deUveredat the Working Men's College, London, on loth December 1881.8vo, 2s. 6d. net.

ARTS AND CRAFTS ESSAYS. By Members of the Arts andCrafts Exhibition Society. With a Preface by William MorrisCrown 8vo, 2s. 6d. net.LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.LONDON, NEW YORK, AND BOMBAY.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF


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BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTEFirst printed at the Kelmscott Press, January

189sNew Edition, August 1898


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THE TALE OF BEOWULFSOMETIME KING OF THEFOLK OF THE WEDERGEATS TRANSLATED BYWILLIAM MORRIS ANDA. J. WYATT

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDONNEW YORK AND BOMBAYMDCCCXCVIII


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Printed by Ballantvne, Hanson &> Co.At the Ballantyne Press


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ARGUMENTHROTHGAR, king of the Danes, lives

happily and peacefully, and bethinks himto build a glorious hall called Hart.

But a little after, one Grendel, of the kindred ofthe evil wights that are come of Cain, hears themerry noise of Hart and cannot abide it ; so heenters thereinto by night, and slays and carriesoff and devours thirty of Hrothgar'a thanes.Thereby he makes Hart waste for twelve years,and the tidings of this mishap are borne wideabout lands. Then comes to the helping ofHrothgar Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow, a thaneof King Hygelac of the Geats, with fourteenfellows. They are met on the shore by theland-warder, and by him shown to Hart and thestead of Hrothgar, who receives them gladly,and to whom Beowulf tells his errand, that hewill help him against Grendel. They feast inthe hall, and one Unferth, son of Ecglaf, tauntsBeowulf through jealousy that he was outdone


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VI ARGUMENTby Breca in swimming. Beowulf tells the truetale thereof. And a little after, at nightfall,"Hrothgar and his folk leave the hall Hart, andit is given in charge to Beowulf, who with hisGeats abides there the coming of Grendel.

Soon comes Grendel to the hall, and slays aman of the Geats, hight Handshoe, and thengrapples with Beowulf, who will use no weaponagainst him : Grendel feels himself over-masteredand makes for the door, and gets out, but leaveshis hand and arm behind him with Beowulf : menon the wall hear the great noise of this battleand the wailing of Grendel. In the morningthe Danes rejoice, and follow the bloody slot ofGrendel, and return to Hart racing and tellingold tales, as of Sigemund and tHe Worm. Thencome the king and his thanes to look on thetoken of victory, Grendel's hand and arm, whichBeowulf has let fasten to the hall-gable.The king praises Beowulf and rewards him,

and they feast in Hart, and the tale of Finn andHengest is told. Then Hrothgar leaves Hart,and so does Beowulf also with his Geats, but theDanes keep guard there.In the night comes in Grendel's Mother, andcatches up Aeschere, a thane of Hrothgar, andcarries him off to her lair. In the morning is


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ARGUMENT vnBeowulf fetched to Hrothgar, who tells him ofthis new grief and craves his help.Then they follow up the slot and come toa great water-side, and find thereby Aeschere'shead, and the place is known for the lair ofthose two: monsters are playing in the deep,and Beowulf shoots one of them to death. ThenBeowulf dights him and leaps into the water,and is a day's while reaching the bottom. Therehe is straightway caught hold of by Grendel'sMother, who bears him into her hall. When hegets free he falls on her, but the edge of thesword Hrunting (lent to him by Unferth) failshim, and she casts him to the ground and drawsher sax to slay him ; but he rises up, and sees anold sword of the giants hanging on the wall ; hetakes it and smites off her head therewith. Hesees Grendel lying dead, and his head also hestrikes off; but the blade of the sword is moltenin his venomous blood. Then Beowulf strikesupward, taking with him the head of Grendel andthe hilts of the sword. When he comes to theshore he finds his Geats there alone ; for the Danesfled when they saw the blood floating in the water.They go up to Hrothgar's stead, and four

men must needs bear the head. They come toHrothgar, and Beowulf gives him the hilts and


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viii ARGUMENTtells him what he has done. Much praise isgiven to Beowulf; and they feast together.On the morrow Beowulf bids farewell toHrothgar, more gifts are given, and messagesare sent to Hygelac : Beowulf departs with thefull love of Hrothgar. The Geats come to theirship and reward the ship-warder, and put offand sail to their own land. Beowulf comes toHygelac's house. Hygelac is told of, and hiswife Hygd, and her good conditions, againstwhom is set as a warning the evil Queen Thrytho,

Beowulf tells all the tale of his doings in fullto Hygelac, and gives him his gifts, and theprecious-gemmed collar to Hygd. Here is toldof Beowulf, and how he was contemned in hisyouth, and is now grown so renowned.Time wears ; Hygelac is slain in battle ; Hear-

dred, his son, reigns in his stead, he is slain bythe Swedes, and Beowulf is made king. Whenhe is grown old, and has been king for fifty years,come new tidings. A great dragon finds on thesea-shore a mound wherein is stored the treasureof ancient folk departed. The said dragon abidesthere, and broods the gold for 300 years.Now a certain thrall, who had misdone againsthis lord and was fleeing from his wrath, haps onthe said treasure and takes a cup thence, which


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ARGUMENT ixhe brings to his lord to appease his wrath. TheWorm waketh, and findeth his treasure lessened,but can find no man who hath done the deed.Therefore he turns on the folk, and wars onthem, and burns Beowulf's house.Now Beowulf will go and meet the Worm.He has an iron shield made, and sets forth witheleven men and the thrall the thirteenth. Hecomes to the ness, and speaks to his men, tellingthem of his past days, and gives them his lastgreeting : then he cries out a challenge to theWorm, who comes forth, and the battle begins :Beowulf's sword will not bite on the Worm.Wiglaf eggs_on the others to come to Beowulf'shelp, and goes himself straightway, and offershimself to Beowulf; the Worm comes on again,and Beowulf breaks his sword Nsegling on him,and the Worm wounds Beowulf. Wiglaf smitesthe Worm in the belly ; Beowulf draws his sax,and between them they slay the Worm.

Beowulf nw feels his wounds, and knows thathe is hurt deadly;^; he sits down by the wall, andWiglaf bathes his wounds. Beowulf speaks, tellshow he would give his armour to his son if he hadone; thanks God that he has not sworn falselyor done guilefully ; and prays Wiglaf to bear outthe treasure that he may see it before he dies.


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X ARGUMENTWiglaf fetches out the treasure, and again

bathes Beowulf's wounds; Beowulf speaks again,rejoices over the sight of the treasure ; gives toWiglaf his ring and his armour, and bids themanner of his bale-fire. With that he passesaway. Now the dastards come thereto and findWiglaf vainly bathing his dead lord. He castethshame upon them with great wrath. Thence hesends a messenger to the barriers of the town,who comes to the host, and tells them of thedeath of Beowulf. He tells withal of the oldfeud betwixt the Geats and the Swedes, and howthese, when they hear of the death of the king,will be upon them. The warriors go to look onBeowulf, and find him and the Worm lying deadtogether. Wiglaf chooses out seven of them togo void the treasure-house, after having biddenthem gather wood for the bale-fire. They shovethe Worm over the cliff into the sea, and bearoff' the treasure in wains. Then they bringBeowulf's corpse to bale, and they kindle it; awoman called the wife of aforetime, it may beHygd, widow of Hygekc, bemoans him : andtwelve children of the athelings ride round thebale, and bemoan Beowulf and praise him : andthus ends the poem.


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THE STORY OF BEOWULFI. AND FIRST OF THE KINDRED OFHROTHGAR.WHAT / we of the Spear-Danes of yore

days, so was itThat we learn'd of the fair fame of

kings of the folksAnd the athelings a -faring in framing of

valour.Oft then Scyld the Sheaf-son from the hosts of

the scathers,.From kindreds ^. ^^lanyjlie mead-settles tore ;It was then the earl fear'd them, sithence was he

firstFound bare and all-lacking ; so solace he bided,Wax'd under the welkin in worship to thrive,Until it was so that the mnrifj-ajjnnt sittersAll over the whale-road must hearken his will loAnd yield him the tribute. A good king was

that.


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2 THE TALE OF BEOWULFBy whom then thereafter a son was begotten,

A_^Qlinglingjn_garidi, whom the great God sentthither

To foster the folk ; and their crime-need he feltThe load that lay on them while lordless they

livedFor a long while and long. He therefore, the

Life-lord,TheWielder of glory, world's worship he gave him

:

Brim Beowulf waxed, and wide the weal upsprangOf the offspring of Scyld in the parts of the

Scede-lands,Such wise shall a youngling with wealth be

a-working 20With goodly fee-gifts toward the friends of his

father,That after in eld-days shall ever bide with him,Fair fellows well-willing when wendeth the war-

tide.Their lief lord a-serving. By praise-deeds it

shall beThat in each and all kindreds a man shall have

thriving.Then went his ways Scyld when the shapen

while was.All hardy to wend him to the lord and his

warding

:


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 3Out then did they bear him to the side of the sea-

flood,The dear fellows of him, as he himself pray'd themWhile yet his word wielded jthe friend of the

Scyldings, 30The dear lord of the land ; a long while had he

own'd it.With stem all be-ringed at the hythe stood the ship,All icy and out-fain, the Atheling's ferry.There then did they lay him, the lord well be-

loved.The gold-rings' bestower, within the ship's barm.The mighty by mast. Much there was the

treasure.From far ways forsooth had the fret-work been led

:

Never heard I of keel that was comelier dighted IWith weapons of war, and with weed of the

battle.With bills and with byrnies. There lay in his

barm 40Much wealth of the treasure that with him

should be.And he into the flood's might afar to depart.No lesser a whit were the wealth-goods they dighthimOf the goods of the folk, than did they who

aforetime,


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4 THE TALE OF BEOWULFWhen was the beginning, first sent him awayAlone o'er the billows, and he but a youngling.Moreover they set him up there a sign goldenHigh up overhead, and let the holm bear him,Gave all to the Spearman. Sad mind they had in

them.And mourning their mood was. Now never knew

men, soFor sooth how to say it, rede-masters in hall,Or heroes 'neath heaven, to whose hands came

the lading.

II. CONCERNING HROTHGAR, ANDHOW HE BUILT THE HOUSE CALLEDHART. ALSO GRENDEL IS TOLD OF.IN the burgs then was biding Beowulf theScylding,

Dear King of the people, for long was hedwelling

Far-famed of folks (his father turn'd elsewhere,From his stead the Chief wended) till awoke to

him afterHealfdene the high, and long while he held it.Ancient and war-eager, o'er the glad ScyldingsOf his body four bairns are forth to him rimedInto the world woke the leader of war-hosts 6o


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 5Heorogar ; eke Hrothgar, and Halga the good ;Heard I that Elan queen was she of Ongentheow,That Scylding of battle, the bed-mate behalsed.Then was unto Hrothgar the war-speed given,

Such worship of war that his kin and well-willersWell hearken'd his will till the younglings were

waxen,A kin-host a many. Then into his mind ranThat he would be building for him now a hall-

house.That men should be making a mead-hall more

mightyThan the children of ages had ever heard tell of: 70And there within eke should he be out-dealingTo young and to old all things God had given,Save the share of the folk and the life-days of men.Then heard I that widely the work was a-banningTo kindreds a many the Middle-garth overTo fret o'er that folk-stead. So befell to him timelyRight soon among men that made was it yarelyThe most of hall-houses, and Hart its name shap'd

he.Who wielded his word full widely around.His behest he belied not ; it was he dealt the

rings, 80The wealth at the high-tide. Then up rose the

hall-house,


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6 THE TALE OF BEOWULFHigh up and horn-gabled. Hot surges it bidedOf fire-flame the loathly, nor long was it thence-forthEre sorely the edge-hate 'twixt Son and Wife's

FatherAfter the slaughter-strife there should awaken.Then the ghost heavy-strong bore with it hardly

E'en for a while of time, bider in darkness,That there on each day of days heard he the

mirth-tideLoud in the hall-house. There was the harp's voice,And clear song of shaper. Said he who could it 90To tell the first fashion of men from aforetimeQuoth how the Almighty One made the Earth's

fashion,The fair field and bright midst the bow of the

Waters,And with victory beglory'd set Sun and Moon,Bright beams to enlighten the biders on landAnd how he adorned all parts of the earthWith limbs and with leaves ; and life withal shapedFor the kindred of each thing that quick on earth

wendeth.So liv'd on all happy the host of the kinsmen

In game and in glee, until one wight began, 100A fiend out of hell-pit, the framing of evil.And Grendel forsooth the grim guest was hight,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 7The mighty mark-strider, the holder of moorland.The fen and the fastness. The stead of the fifelThat wight all unhappy a while of time warded,Sithence that the Shaper him had for-written.On the kindred of Cain the Lord living everAwreaked the murder of the slaying of Abel.In that feud he rejoic'd not, but afar him Hebanish'd.The Maker, from mankind for the crime he had

wrought. 110But offspring uncouth thence were they awokenEotens and elf-wights, and ogres of ocean,And therewith the Giants, who won war against

GodA long while ; but He gave them their wagestherefor.

III. HOW GRENDEL FELL UPON HARTAND WASTED IT.NOW went he a-spying, when come was thenight-tide,The house on high builded, and how there

the Ring-DanesTheir beer-drinking over had boune them to bed;And therein he found them, the atheling fellows.Asleep after feasting. Then sorrow they knew not


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8 THE TALE OF BEOWULFNor the woe of mankind : but the wight of

wealth's waning, 120The grim and the greedy, soon yare was he gotten,All furious and fierce, and he raught up from

resting^Ajhixis of thanes, and thence aback got himRight fain of his gettings, and homeward to fare,Fulfilled of slaughter his stead to go look on.

Thereafter at dawning, when day was yet early.The war-craft of Grendel to men grew unhidden.And after his meal was the weeping uphoven,-Mickle__voice of the morning-tide : there the

Prince mighty,The Atheling exceeding good, unblithe he sat, isoTholing the heavy woe ; thane-sorrow dreed heSince the slot of the loathly wight there they had

look'd on.The ghost all accursed. O'ergjasly^the strife was,So loathly andlon^ome. No longer the-fiist^wasBufrfteF-t-he wearing of one night ; then fram'd heMurder-bales more yet, and nowise he mournedThe feud and the crime ; over fast therein was he.Then easy to find was the man who would else-

whereSeek out for himself a rest was more roomsome,Beds end-long the bowers, when beacon'd to him

was, 140


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 9And soothly out told by manifest token,The hate of the hell-thane. He held himself

sithenceFurther and faster who from the fiend gat him.

In such wise he rul'd it and wrought againstright,

But one against all, until idle was standingThe best of hall-houses; and mickle the while was,Twelve winter-tides' wearing ; and trouble he

tholed.That friend of the Scyldings, of woes every oneAnd wide-spreading sorrows : for sithence it fellThat unto men's children unbidden 'twas knownFull sadly in singing, that Grendel won war 151'Gainst Hrothgar a while of time, hate-envy

waging,And crime-guilts and feud for seasons no few,And strife without stinting. For the sake of nokindnessUnto any of men of the main-host of Dane-folkWould he thrust off the life-bale, or by fee-gild

allay it.Nor was there a wise man that needed to weenThe bright boot to have at the hand of the slayer.The monster the fell one afflicted them sorely.That death-shadow darksome the doughty and

youthful 160


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lO THE TALE OF BEOWULFEnfetter'd, ensnared; night by night was he

faringThe moorlands the misty. But never know menOf spell-workers of Hell to and fro where they

wander.So crime-guilts a many the foeman of mankind,The fell alone-farer, fram'd oft and full often,Cruel hard shames and wrongful, and Hart heabode in,The treasure-stain'd hall, in the dark of the night-

tide;But never the gift-stool therein might he greet,The treasure before the Creator he trow'd not.

Mir.kle. wrack was it soothly for the friend ofthe Scyldings, tfS

Yea heart and mood breaking. Now sat there amany

Of the mighty in rune, and won them the redeOf what thing for the strong-soul'd were best of

all thingsWhich yet they might frame 'gainst the fear and

the horror.And whiles they behight them at the shrines of

the heathenTo worship the idols ; and pray'd they in words.That he, the ghost-slayer, would frame for them

helping


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF ii'Gainst the folk-threats and evil. So far'd they

their wont,The hope of the heathen; nor hell they remember'dIn mood and in mind. And the Maker they

knew not, 180The Doomer of deeds : nor of God the Lord

wist they,Nor the Helm of the Heavens knew aught how

to hery,The Wielder of Glory. Woe worth unto that manWho through hatred the baneful his soul shall

shove intoThe fire's embrace ; jiought of fostering weei^ he._5Jor^fcha2igingonj^ But well is he soothlyThat after the death-day shalTseeFlo the LordT"In the breast of the Father all peace ever craving.

IV. NOW COMES BEOWULF ECG-THEOW'S SON TO THE LAND OF THEDANES, AND THE WALL-WARDENSPEAKETH WITH HIM.SO care that was time-long the kinsman ofHealfdeneStill seeth'd without ceasing, nor might the

wise warrior 190Wend otherwhere woe, for o'er strong was the strife


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12 THE TALE OF BEOWULFAll loathly so longsome late laid on the people,Need-wrack and grim nithing, of night-bales thegreatest.Now that from his home heard the Hygelac's

thane,Good midst of the Geat-folk ; of Grendel's deeds

heard he.But he was of mankind of might and main

mightiestIn the day that we tell of, the day of this life,All noble, strong-waxen. He bade a wave-

wearerRight good to be gear'd him, and quoth he thatthe war-kingOver the swan-road- he would be seeking, 200The folk-lord far-famed. ince_lack of men had hg .Forsooth of that faring the carles wiser-fa'shion'dLaid little blame on him, though lief to them

was heThe heart-hardy whetted they, heeded the omen.There had the gdod one, e'en he of the Geat-folk,Champions out-chosen of them that he keenestMight find for his needs ; and he then the

fifteenthSought to the sound-wood. A swain thereon

show'd him,A sea-crafty man, all the make of the land-marks.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 13Wore then a while, on the waves was the

floater, 210The boat under the berg, and yare then thewarriors

Strode up on the stem ; the streams were a-windingThe sea 'gainst the sands. Upbore the swains thenUp into the bark's barm the bright -fretted

weapons,The war-array stately; then out the lads shov'd her.The folk on the welcome way shov'd out the

wood-bound.Then by the wind driven out o'er the wave-holmFar'd the foamy-neck'd floater most like to a fowl,Till when was the same tide of the second day's

wearingThe wound-about-stemm'd one had waded her way.So that then they that sail'd her had sight of the

land, 221Bleak shine of the sea-cliffs, bergs steep up above,Sea-nesses wide reaching ; the sound was won over.The sea-way was ended : then up ashore swiftlyThe band of the Weder-folk up oh earth wendedThey bound up the sea-wood, their sarks on them

rattled.Their weed of the battle, and God there they

thankedFor that easy the wave-ways were waxen unto them.


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14 THE TALE OF BEOWULFBut now from the wall saw the Scylding-fplks'

warder,E'en he who the holm-clifFs should ever be holding,Men bear o'er the gangway the bright shields

a-shining, 23iFolk-host gear all ready. Then mind-longing

wore him,And stirr'd up his mood to wot who were themen-folk.So shoreward down far'd he his fair steed a-riding,Hrothgar's Thane, and^fuUstrongly then set he.

La-quaking ~" - -^'^

JThe saEk wood__ui his ,iiands, and in council-speech speer'd he

:

What men be ye then of them that have war-gear.

With byrnies bewarded, who the keel high up-builded

Over the Lake-street thus have come leading.Hither o'er holm-ways hieing in ring-stem .? 240End-sitter was I, a-holding the sea-ward.That the land of the Dane-folk none of the

loathlyFaring with ship-horde ever might scathe it.None yet have been seeking more openly hitherOf shield-havers than ye, and ye of the leave-wordOf the framers of war naught at all wotting.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 15Or the manners of kinsmen. But no man of earls

greaterSaw I ever on earth than one of you yonder,The warrior in war-gear : no hall-man, so ween I,Is that weapon-beworthy'd, but his visage belie

him, 250The sight seen once only. Now I must be

wottingThe spring of your kindred ere further ye cast ye,And let loose your false spies in the Dane-land

a-faringYet further afield. So now, ye far-dwellers.Ye wenders o'er sea-flood, this word do ye hearkenOf my one-folded thought : and haste is the

handiestTo do me to wit of whence is your coming.

V. HERE BEOWULF MAKES ANSWERTO THE LAND-WARDEN, WHO SHOW-ETH HIM THE WAY TO THE KING'SABODE.

HE then that was chiefest in thus wise heanswer'd,The war-fellows' leader unlock'd he theword-hoardWe be a people of the Weder-Geats' man-kin 260


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l6 THE TALE OF BEOWULFAnd of Hygelac be we the hearth-fellows soothly.My father before me of folks was well-famedVan-leader and atheling, Ecgtheow he hight.Many winters abode he, and on the way wendedAn old man from the garths, and him well re-

membersEvery wise man well nigh wide yond o'er the

earth.Through our lief mood and friendly the lord

that is thine.Even Healfdene's son, are we now come a-seeking,Thy warder of folk. Learn us well with thy

leading.For we have to the mighty an errand full mickle,To the lord of the Dane-folk : naught dark

shall it be, 271That ween I full surely. If it be so thou wottest,As soothly for our parts we now have heard say,That one midst of the Scyldings, who of scathers

I wot not,A deed-hater secret, in the dark of the night-tideSetteth forth through the terror the malice un-

told of.The shame-wrong and slaughter. I therefore toHrothgarThrough my mind fashion'd roomsome the rede

may now learn him,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 17How he, old-wise and good, may get the fiend

under,If once more from him awayward may turn 280The business of bales, and the boot come again,And the weltering of care wax cooler once more ;Or for ever sithence time of stress he shall thole.The need and the wronging, the while yet thereabidethOn the high stead aloft the best of all houses.Then spake out the warden on steed there

a-sitting.The servant all un-fear'd : It shall be of eitherThat the shield - warrior sharp the sundering

wotteth.Of words and of works, if he think thereof well.I hear it thus said that this host here is friendly 290To the lord of the Scyldings ; forth fare ye then,

bearingYour weed and your weapons, of the Way will I

wise youLikewise mine own kinsmen I will now be biddingAgainst every foeman your floater before us.Your craft but new-tarred, the keel on the sand.With honour to hold, until back shall be bearingOver the lake-streams this one, the lief man.The wood of the wounden-neck back unto

Wedermark.


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1 THE TALE OF BEOWULFUnto such shall be granted amongst the good-

doers 299To win the way out all whole from the war-race.Then boun they to faring, the bark biding quietHung upon hawser the wide-fathom'd shipFast at her anchor. Forth shone the boar-shapesOver the check-guards golden adorned,Fair-shifting, fire-hard ; ward held the farrow.Snorted the war-moody, hasten'd the warriorsAnd trod down together until the hall timber'd,Stately and gold-bestain'd, gat they to look on,That was the all-mightiest unto earth's dwellersOf halls 'neath the heavens, wherein bode themighty ; 3ioGlisten'd the gleam thereof o'er lands a many.Unto them then the war-deer the court of the

proud oneFull clearly betaught it, that they therewithalMight wend their ways thither. Then he of the

warriorsRound wended his steed, and spake a word back-

ward :Time now for my faring; but the Father All-

wielderMay He with all helping henceforward so hold youAll whole in your wayfaring. Will I to sea-sideAgainst the wroth folk to hold warding ever.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 19VI. BEOWULF AND THE GEATS COMEINTO HART.STONE-DIVERSE the street was, straight

uplong the path led 320The warriors together. There shone the war-

byrnyThe hard and the hand-lock'd ; the ring-iron sheerSang over their war-gear, when they to the hall

firstIn their gear the all-fearful had gat them to

ganging.So then the sea-weary their wide shields set down,Their war-rounds the mighty, against the hall's

wall.Then bow'd they to bench, and rang there the

byrnies,The war-weed of warriors, and up-stood the spears,The war-gear of the sea-folk all gather'd together.The ash-holt grey-headed ; that host of the

iron 330With weapons was worshipful. There then a

proud chiefOf those lads of the battle speer'd after their lineWhence ferry ye then the shields golden-faced,

The grey sarks therewith, and the helms all be-visor'd,


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20 THE TALE OF BEOWULFAnd a heap of the war-shafts? Now am I of

HrothgarThe man and the messenger : ne'er saw I of aliensSo many of men more might-like of mood.I ween that for pride-sake, no wise for wrack-

wendingBut for high might of mind, ye to Hrothgar have

sought.Unto him then the heart-hardy answer'd and

spake, 340The proud earl of the Weders the word gave

aback,The "hardy neath helm : Now of Hygelac are weThe board-fellows ; Beowulf e'en is my name,And word will I say unto Healfdene's son.To the mighty, the folk-lord, what errand is mine.Yea unto thy lord, if to us he will grant itThat him, who so good is, anon we may greet.

Spake Wulfgar the word, a lord of theWendels,

And the mood of his heart of a many was kenned.His war and his wisdom : I therefore the Danes'

friend 350Will lightly be asking, of the lord of the

Scyldings,The dealer of rings, since the boon thou art

bidding.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 21The mighty folk-lord, concerning thine errand,And swiftly the answer shall do thee to witWhich the good one to give thee aback may

deem meetest.Then turn'd he in haste to where Hrothgar

was sittingRight old and all hoary mid the host of his earl-

folk

:

Went the valour-stark; stood he the shouldersbefore

Of the Dane-lord : well could he the doughtyones' custom.

So Wulfgar spake forth to his lord the well-friendly : 360

Hither are ferry'd now, come from afar offO'er the field of the ocean, a folk of the Geats ;These men of the battle e'en Beowulf name theyTheir elder and chiefest, and to thee are theybiddingThat they, O dear lord, with thee may be dealingIn word against word. Now win them no naysayOf thy speech again-given, O Hrothgar the glad-

man :For they in their war-gear, methinketh, be worthyOf good deeming of earls ; and forsooth naught

but doughtyIs he who hath led o'er the warriors hither. 370


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22 THE TALE OF BEOWULFVII. BEOWULF SPEAKETH WITHHROTHGAR, AND TELLETH HOW HEWILL MEET GRENDEL.WORD then gave out Hrothgar the helmof the Scyldings

I knew him in sooth when he was but ayoungling,

And his father, the old man, was Ecgtheow hightUnto whom at his home gave Hrethel the Geat-

lordHis one only daughter; and now hath his off-

springAll hardy come hither a lief lord to seek him.For that word they spake then, the sea-faring men,E'en they who the gift-scat for the Geat-folk had

ferry'd.Brought thither for thanks, that of thirty of men-

folkThe craft of might hath he within his own hand-

grip, 380That war-strong of men. Now him holy GodFor kind help hath sent off here even to us.We men of the West Danes, as now I haveweening,'Gainst the terror of Grendel, So I to that good

one


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 23For his mighty mood-daring shall the dear trea-

sure bid.Haste now and be speedy, and bid them instraightway,

The kindred-band gather'd together, to see us.And in words say thou eke that they be well

comenTo the folk of the Danes. To the door of the

hall thenWent Wulfgar, and words withinward he

flitted 390He bade me to say you, my lord of fairbattle,The elder of East-Danes, that he your bloodknoweth,

And that unto him are ye the sea-surges over.Ye lads hardy-hearted, well come to land hitherAnd now may ye wend you all in war-raimentUnder the battle-mask Hrothgar to see.But here let your battle-boards yet be abiding.With your war-weed and slaughter-shafts, issue

of words.Then rose up the rich one, much warriors

around him.Chosen heap of the thanes, but there some abidedThe war-^ear to hold, as the wight one was

bidding. 4oi


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24 THE TALE OF BEOWULFSwift went they together, as the warrior there

led them,Under Hart's roof : went the stout-hearted,The hardy neath helm, till he stood by the high-

seat.Then Beowulf spake out, on him shone the byrny,His war-net besown by the wiles of the smith :

Hail to thee, Hrothgar ! I am of HygelacKinsman and folk-thane ; fair deeds have I manyBegun in my youth-tide, and this matter of Gren-

del 409On the turf of mine own land undarkly I knew.'Tis the seafarers' say that standeth this hall,The best house forsooth, for each one of warriorsAll idle and useless, after the even-lightUnder the heaven-loft hidden becometh.Then lightly they learn'd me, my people, this

lore,E'en the best that there be of the wise of the

churls,O Hrothgar the kingly, that thee should I seek to,Whereas of the might of my craft were they

cunningFor they saw me when came I from out of mywargear,Blood-stain'd from the foe whenas five had I

bounden, 420


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 25Quell'd the kin of the eotens, and in the wave

slainThe nicors by night-tide : strait need then I bore,Wreak'd the grief of the Weders, the woe they

had gottenI ground down the wrathful ; and now against

GrendelI here with the dread one alone shall be dooming,In Thing with the giant. I now then with thee,O lord of the bright Danes, will fall to my

bidding,O berg of Scyldings, and bid thee one boon,Which, O refuge of warriors, gainsay me not now.Since, O free friend of folks, from afar have I

come, 430That I alone, I and my band of the earls.This hard heap of men, may cleanse Hart of ill.This eke have I heard say, that he, the fell

monster.In his wan-heed recks nothing of weapons of war ;Forgo I this therefore (if so be that HygelacWill still be my man-lord, and he blithe of

mood)To bear the sword with me, or bear the broad

shield,Yellow-round to the battle ; but with naught save

the hand-grip


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26 THE TALE OF BEOWULFWith the foe shall I grapple, and grope for the

lifeThe loathly with loathly. There he shall believeIn the doom of the Lord whom death then shall

take. 441Now ween I that he, if he may wield matters,E'en there in the war-hall the folk of the GeatsShall eat up unafear'd, as oft he hath done itWith the might of the Hrethmen : no need for

thee thereforeMy head to be hiding ; for me will he haveWith gore all bestain'd, if the death of men get

me;He will bear oiF my bloody corpse minded totaste it

UnmournfuUy then will the Lone-goer eat it.Will blood-mark the moor-ways; for the meat

of my body 450Naught needest thou henceforth in any wise

grieve thee.But send thou to Hygelac, if the war have me.The best of all war-shrouds that now my breast

wardeth.The goodliest of railings, the good gift ofHrethel,The hand-work of Weland. Weird wends as sh&^

willeth.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 27VIII. HROTHGAR ANSWERETH BEO-WULF AND BIDDETH HIM SIT TOTHE FEAST.SPAKE out then Hrothgar the helm of the

ScyldingsThou Beowulf, friend mine, for battle thatwardeth

And for help that is kindly hast sought to ushither.

Fought down thy father the most of all feudsTo Heatholaf was he forsooth for a hand^bane 46oAmidst of the Wylfings. The folk of the

WedersHim for the war-dread that while might not

hold.So thence did he seek to the folk of the South-

DanesO'er the waves' wallow, to the Scyldings be-worshipp'd.

Then first was I wielding the weal of the Dane-folk,

That time was I holding in youth-tide the gem-, rich

Hoard-burg of the heroes. Dead then wasHe(M-ogar,

Mine elder of brethren ; unliving was he,


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28 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThe Healfdene's bairn that was better than I.That feud then thereafter with fee did I settle ; 470I sent to the Wylfing folk over the waters' backTreasures of old time ; he swore the oaths

to me.Sorrow is in my mind that needs must I say itTo any of grooms, of GrendeJ what hath heOf shaming in Hart, and he with his hate-wilesOf sudden harms framed ; the host of my hall-

floor.The war-heap, is waned ; Weird swept them awayInto horror of Grendel. It is God now that

may lightlyThe scather the doltish from deeds thrust aside.Full oft have they boasted with beer well be-

drunken, 480My men of the battle all over the ale-stoup,That they in the beer-hall would yet be abidingThe onset of Grendel with the terror of edges.But then was this mead-hall in the tide of the

morning,This warrior-hall, gore-stain'd when day at last

gleamed,All the boards of the benches with blood be-steam'd over.The hall laid with sword-gore : of lieges less

had I


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 29Of dear and of doughty, for them death had

gotten.Now sit thou to feast and unbind thy moodfreely,

Thy war-fame unto men as the mind of theewhetteth. 490

Then was for the Geat-folk and them alltogether

There in the beer-hall a bench bedight roomsome,There the stout-hearted hied them to sittingProud in their might : a thane minded the service,Who in hand upbare an ale-stoup adorned,Skinked the sheer mead ; whiles sang the shaperClear out in Hart-hall ; joy was of warriors.Men doughty no little of Danes and of Weders.

IX. UNFERTH CONTENDETH IN WORDSWITH BEOWULF.SPAKE out then Unferth that bairn was of

Ecglaf,And he sat at the feet of the lord of the

Scyldings, 5oHe unbound the battle-rune ; was Beowulf's

faring,Of him the proud mere-farer, mickle unliking.Whereas he begrudg'd it of any man other


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30 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThat he glories more mighty the middle-garth

overShould hold under heaven than he himself held

:

Art thou that Beowulf who won strife withBreca

On the wide sea contending in swimming,When ye two for pride's sake search'd out the

floodsAnd for a dolt's cry into deep waterThrust both your life-days ? No man the twain

of you, 510Lief or loth were he, might lay wyte to stay youYour sorrowful journey, when on the sea row'd yeThen when the ocean-stream ye with your arms

deck'd,Meted the mere-streets, there your hands bran-

dish'dO'er the Spearman ye glided ; the sea with waves

welter'd,The surge of the winter, ^e twain in the waves'

mightFor a seven nights swink'd. He outdid thee in

swimming,And the more was his might; but him in themorn-tideTo the Heatho-Remes' land the holm bore

ashome,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 3And thence away sought he to his dear land and

lovely, 520The lief to his people sought the land of theBrondings,

The fair burg peace-warding, where he the folkowned,

The burg and the gold rings. What to thee-ward he boasted,

Beanstan's son, for thee soothly he brought itabout.Now ween I for thee thirds worser than erewhile.

Though thou in the war-race wert everywheredoughty,

In the grim war, if thou herein Grendel darestNight-long for a while of time nigh to abide.Then Beowulf spake out, the Ecgtheow's bairn :

What ! thou no few of things, O Unferth myfriend, 630And thou drunken with beer, about Breca hastspoken,

Saidest out of his journey; so the sooth now I tellTo wit, that the more might ever I owned.Hard wearing on wave more than any man else.We twain then, we quoth it, while yet we were

younglings.And we boasted between us, the twain of us being

yet


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32 THE TALE OF BEOWULFIn our youth-days, that we out onto thq^peafHwn.Our lives would adventure ; and e'en so wewrought it.We had a sword naked, when on the sound row'd

we, 539Hard in hand, as we twain against the whale-fishesHad mind to be warding us. No whit from meIn the waves of the sea-flood afar might he floatThe hastier in holm, nor would I from him hie me.Then we two together, we were in the seaFor a five nights, till us twain the flood drave

,

asunder,The weltering of waves. Then the coldest ofweathersIn the dusking of night and the wind from the

northwardBattle-grim turn'd against us, rough grown were

the billows.Of the mere-fishes then was the mood all up-

stirred ;There me 'gainst the loathly the body-sark mine.The hard and the hand-lock'd, was framing me

help, 551My battle-rail braided, it lay on my breastGear'd graithly with gold. But me to the ground .

tugg'dA foe and fiend-scather ; fast he had me in hold


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF , 33That grim one in grip : yet to me was it given,That the wretch there, the monster, with point

might I reach.With my bill of the battle, and the war-race ofF

boreThe mighty mere-beast through the hand that

was mine.

X. BEOWULF MAKES AN END OF HISTALE OF THE SWIMMING. WEALH-THEOW, HROTHGAR'S QUEEN, GREETSHIM; AND HROTHGAR DELIVERS TOHIM THE WARDING OF THE HALL.THUS oft and oft over the doers of evilThey threaten'd me hard ; thane-service I

did them 660With the dear sword of mine, as forsooth it wasmeet.That nwise of their fill did they win them thejoyThe evil fordoers in swallowing me down.Sitting round at the feast nigh the ground of the

sea.Yea rather, a morning-tide, mangled by sword-edgeAlong the waves' leaving up there did they lieLull'd asleep with the sword, so that never

sithencec


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34 THE TALE OF BEOWULFAbout the deep floods for the farers o'er oceanThe way have they letted. Came the light fromthe eastward, 569The bright beacon of God, and grew the seas calm,So that the sea-nesses now might I look on.The windy walls. Thuswise Weird oft will be

savingThe earl that is unfey, when his valour availeth.Whatever, it happ'd me that I with the sword slewNicors nine. Never heard I of fighting a night-

tide'Neath the vault of the heavens was harder than

that.Nor yet on the sea-streams of woefuUer wight.Whatever, forth won I with life from the foes'

clutchAll of wayfaring weary. But me the sea upbore,The flood downlong the tide with the weltering

of waters, 580All onto the Finnland. No whit of thee everMid such strife of the battle-gear have I heard say,Such terrors of bills. Nor never yet BrecaIn the play of the battle, nor both you, nor either,So dearly the deeds have framed forsoothWith the bright flashing swords ; though ofthis

naught I boast me.But thou of thy brethren the banesman becamest,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 35Yea thine head-kin forsooth, for which in hell

shalt thouDree weird of damnation, though doughty thy

wit beFor unto thee say I forsooth, son of Ecglaf, 590That so many deeds never Grendel had done,That monster the loathly, against thine own lord,The shaming in Hart-hall, if suchwise thy mind

were,And thy saul e'en as battle-fierce, such as thou

sayest^But he, he hath fram'd it that the feud he may

heed not,The fearful edge-onset that is of thy folk,Nor sore need be fearful of the Victory-Scyldings.The need-pledges taketh he, no man he sparethOf the folk of the Danes, driveth war as he lusteth,Slayeth and feasteth unweening of strife 600With them of the Spear-Danes. But I, I shall

show it.The Geats' wightness and might ere the time

weareth old.Shall bide him in war-tide. Then let him go who

may goHigh-hearted to mead, sithence when the morn-

lightO'er the children of men of the second day hence.


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36 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThe sun clad in heaven's air, shines from the

southward.Then merry of heart was the meter of treasures.The hoary-man'd war-renown'd, help now he

trow'd inThe lord of the Bright-Danes on Beowulf

hearken'd, 609The folk-shepherd knew him, his fast-ready mind.There was laughter of heroes, and high the din rangAnd winsome the words were. Went Wealhtheow

forth.The Queen she of Hrothgar, of courtesies mindful,The gold-array'd greeted the grooms in the hall,The free and frankwoman the beaker there wended,And first to the East-Dane-folk's fatherland's!

warder, And bade him be blithe at the drinking of beer.To his people beloved, and lustily took heThe feast and the hall-cup, that victory-fam'd

King.Then round about went she, the Dame of the

Helmings, 620And to doughty and youngsome, each deal of the

folk there.Gave cups of the treasure, till now it betidThat to Beowulf duly the Queen the ring-dighted,Of mind high uplifted, the mgad-Jjeaker bare.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 37Then she greeted the Geat-lord, and gave God

the thank,She, the wisefast in words, that the will had wax'd

in herIn one man of the earls to have trusting and trothFor comfort from crimes. But the cup then he

took.The slaughter-fierce warrior, from Wealhtheowthe Queen. 629

And then rim'd he the word, making ready for war,And Beowulf spake forth, the Ecgtheow's bairn :

E'en that in mind had I when up on holmstrode I,

And in sea-boat sat down with a band of mymen.

That for once and for all the will of your peopleWould I set me to work, or on slaughter-field

cringeFast in grip of the fiend ; yea and now shall Iframe

The valour of earl-folk, or else be abidingThe day of mine end, here down in the mead-hall.To the wife those his words well liking they

were,The big word of the Geat ; and the gold-adorn'd

wended, etoThe frank and free Queen to sit by her lord.


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38 THE TALE OF BEOWULFAnd thereafter within the high hall was as erst

The proud word outspoken and bliss on the people,Was the sound of the victory-folk, till on a suddenThe Healfdene's son would now be a-seekingHis rest of the even : wotted he for the EvilWithin the high hall was the Hild-play bedight,Sithejice that the sun-light no more should they see,When night should be darkening, and down

over allThe shapes of the shadow-helms should be

a-striding 650Wan under the welkin. Uprose then all war-folkThen greeted the glad-minded one man the other,Hrothgar to Beowulf, bidding him hail.And the wine-hall to wield, and withal quoth the

wordNever to any man erst have I given,

Since the hand and the shield's round aloft mightI heave.

This high hall of the Dane-folk, save now untothee.

Have now and hold the best of all houses.Mind thee of fame, show the might of thy valourWake the wroth one : no lack shall there be tothy willing 660If that wight work thou win and life there-

withal.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 39XI. NOW IS BEOWULF LEFT IN THEHALL ALONE WITH HIS MEN.THEN wended him Hrothgar with theband of his warriors,

The high-ward of the Scyldings from outof the hall,

For then would the war-lord go seek unto Wealh-theow

The Queen for a bed-mate. The glory of king-folk

Against Grendel had set, as men have heard say,A hall-ward who held him a service apartIn the house of the Dane-lord, for eoten-ward

held he.Forsooth he, the Geat-lord, full gladly he trowedIn the might of his mood and the grace of the

Maker. 67oTherewith he did off him his byrny of ironAnd the helm from his head, and his dighted

sword gave,The best of all irons, to the thane that abode

him,And bade him to hold that harness of battle.Bespake then the good one, a big word he gave

out,Beowulf the Geat, ere on the bed strode he :


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40 THE TALE OF BEOWULFNowise in war. I deem me more lowly

In the works of the battle than Grendel, I weenSo not with the sword shall I lull him to

slumber,Or take his life thuswise, though to me were it

easy; 680Of that good wise he wots not, to get the stroke

on me,To hew on my shield, for as stark as he shall beIn the works of the foeman. So we twain a

night-tideShall forgo the sword, if he dare yet to seekThe war without weapons. Sithence the wiseGod,The Lord that is holy, on which hand soeverThe glory may doom as due to him seemeth.Bowed down then the war-deer, the cheek-

bolster tookThe face of the earl ; and about him a manyOf sea-warriors bold to their hall-slumber bow'd

them 690No one of them thought that thence away should

heSeek ever again to his home the beloved,His folk or his free burg, where erst he was fedFor of men had they learn'd that o'er mickle a

many


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 41In that wine-hall aforetime the fell death had

gottenOf the folk of the Danes ; but the Lord to themgave it,To the folk of the Weders, the web of war-speeding,

Help fair and good comfort, e'en so that theirfoeman

Through the craft of one man all they over-came,

By the self- might of one. So is manifesttruth 700

That God the Almighty the kindred of menHath wielded wide ever. Now by wan nightthere came.

There strode in the shade-goer; slept there theshooters.

They who that horn-house should be a-holding,All men but one man : to men was that

known.That them indeed might not, since will'd not the

Maker,The scather unceasing drag off 'neath the

shadowBut he ever watching in wrath 'gainst the wroth

oneMood-swollen abided the battle-mote ever.


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42 THE TALE OF BEOWULFXII. GRENDEL COMETH INTO HART:OF THE STRIFE BETWIXT HIM ANDBEOWULF.CAME then from the moor-land, all underthe mist-bents, 7io

Grendel a-going there, bearing God's anger.The scather the ill one was minded of mankindTo have one in his toils from the high hall aloft.'Neath the welkin he waded, to the place whence

the wine-house,The gold-hall of men, most yarely he wistWith gold-plates fair colour'd ; nor was it the

first timeThat he unto Hrothgar's high home had betook

him.Never he in his life-days, either erst or there-

after.Of warriors more hardy or hall-thanes had found.Came then to the house the wight on his ways, 720Of all joys bereft; and soon sprang the door

open.With fire-bands made fast, when with hand he

had touch'd itBrake the bale-heedy, he with wrath boUen,The mouth of the house there, and early there-

after


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 43On the shiny-fleck'd floor thereof trod forth the

fiendOn went he then mood-wroth, and out from hiseyes stood

Likest to fire-flame light full unfair.In the high house beheld he a many of warriors,A host of men sib all sleeping together.Of man-warriors a heap ; then laugh'd out his

mood 73oIn mind deem'd he to sunder, or ever came day,The monster, the fell one, from each of the men

thereThe life from the body ; for befell him a bodingOf fulfilment of feeding : but weird now it was

notThat he any more of mankind thenceforwardShould eat, that night over. Huge evil beheld

thenThe Hygelac's kinsman, and how the foul scatherAll with his fear-grips would fare there before

him;How never the monster was minded to tarry.For speedily gat he, and at the first stour, 740A warrior a-sleeping, and unaware slit him,Bit his bone-cofFer, drank blood a-streaming.Great gobbets swallow'd in; thenceforth soon

had he


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44 THE TALE OF BEOWULFOf the unliving one every whit eatenTo hands and feet even: then forth strode henigher.And took hold with his hand upon him the high-

hearted,The warrior a-resting ; reach'd out to himwardsThe fiend with his hand, gat fast on him rathelyWith thought of all evil, and besat him his arm.Then swiftly was finding the herdsman of foul

deeds 75oThat forsooth he had met not in Middle-garth

ever,In the parts of the earth, in any man elseA hand-grip more mighty; then wax'd he of

moodHeart-fearful, but none the more outward might

he;Hence-eager his heart was to the darkness to hie

him,And the devil-dray seek : not there was his serviceE'en such as he found in his life-days before.Then to heart laid the good one, the Hygelac's

kinsman.His speech of the even-tide ; uplong he stoodAnd fast with him grappled, till bursted his

fingers. 76oThe eoten was out-fain, but on strode the earl.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 45The mighty fiend minded was, whereso he might,To wind him about more widely away thence.And flee fenwards ; he found then the might of

his fingersIn the grip of the fierce one ; sorry faring was

that

Which he, the harm-scather, had taken to Hart.The warrior-hall dinn'd now; unto all Danesthere waxed,

To the castle-abiders, to each of the keen ones,To all earls, as an ale-dearth. Now angry were

bothOf the fierce mighty warriors, far rang out the

hall-house 770Then mickle the wonder it was that the wine-hallWithstood the two war-deer, nor welter'd to earthThe fair earthly dwelling; but all fast was it

buildedWithin and without with the banding of ironBy crafty thought smithy'd. But there from the

sill bow'dFell many a mead-bench, by hearsay of mine.With gold well adorned, where strove they the

wrothful.Hereof never ween'd they, the wise of the Scyld-

ings.That ever with might should any of men


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46 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThe excellent, bone-dight, break into pieces, 780Or unlock with cunning, save the light fire'sembracingIn smoke should it swallow. So uprose the roarNew and enough ; now fell on the North-Danes111 fear and the terror, on each and on all men.Of them who from wall-top hearken'd the weeping.Even God's foeman singing the fear-lay.The triumphless song, and the wound-bewailingOf the thrall of the Hell ; for there now fast held

himHe who of men of main was the mightiestIn that day which is told of, the day of this life.

XIII. BEOWULF HATH THE VICTORYGRENDEL IS HURT DEADLY ANDLEAVETH HAND AND ARM IN THEHALL.NAUGHT would the earls' help for any-

thing thenceforth 79iThat murder-comer yet quick let loose of.

Nor his life-days forsooth to any of folkTold he for useful. Out then drew full manyOf Beowult's earls the heir-loom of old days.For their lord and their master's ! fair life would

they ward,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 47That mighty of princes, if so might they do it.For this did they know not when they the strife

dreed.Those hardy-minded men of the battle,And on every half there thought to be hewing, 800And search out his soul, that the ceaseless scatherNot any on earth of the choice of all irons.Not one of the war-bills, would greet home tor

ever.For he had forsworn him from victory-weapons.And each one of edges. But his sundering of soulIn the days that we tell of, the day of this life,Should be weary and woeful, the ghost wending

elsewhereTo the wielding of fiends to wend him afar.Then found he out this, he who mickle erst madeOut of mirth of his mood unto children of men 810And had fram'd many crimes, he the foeman ofGod,That the body of him would not bide to avail

him.But the hardy of mood, even Hygelac's kinsman,Had him fast by the hand : now was each to the

otherAll loathly while living : his body-sore bidedThe monster : was manifest now on his shoulderThe unceasing wound, sprang the sinews asunder.


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48 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThe bone-lockers bursted. To Beowulf nowWas the battle-fame given; should Grendelthenceforth 819Flee life-sick awayward and under the fen-bentsSeek his unmerry stead : now wist he more surelyThat ended his life was, and gone over for ever,His day-tale told out. But was for all Dane-folkAfter that slaughter-race all their will done.Then had he cleans'd for them, he the far-comer,Wise and stout-hearted, the high hall of Hrothgar,And sav'd it from war. So the night-work he

joy'd inAnd his doughty deed done. Yea, but he for theEast-DanesThat lord of the Geat-folk his boast's end had

gotten,Withal their woes bygone all had he booted, ssoAnd the sorrow hate-fashion'd that afore they had

dreed.And the hard need and bitter that erst they must

bear.The sorrow unlittle. Sithence was clear tokenWhen the deer of the battle laid down there the

handThe arm and the shoulder, and all there togetherOf the grip of that Grendel 'neath the great roof

upbuilded.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 49XIV. THE DANES REJOICE; THEY GOTO LOOK ON THE SLOT OF GRENDEL,AND COME BACK TO HART, AND ONTHE WAY MAKE MERRY WITH RACINGAND THE TELLING OF TALES.THERE was then on the morning, as I haveheard tell it,

Round the gift-hall a many of^msn-of thewarriors ~

Were faring folk-leaders from far and from nearO'er the wide-away roads the wonder to look on,The track of the loathly : his life-sundering

nowise 841Was deem'd for a sorrow to any of men thereWho gaz'd on the track of the gloryless wightHow he all a-weary of mood thence awayward,Brought to naught in the battle, to the mere of

the nicors,Now fey and forth-fleeing, his life-steps had flitted.There all in the blood was the sea-brim a-welling,The dread swing of the waves was washing all

mingledWith hot blood ; with the gore of the sword was

it wellingThe death-doom'd had dyed it, sithence he un-

merry 860


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so THE TALE OF BEOWULFIn his fen-hold had laid down the last of his life,His soul of the heathen, and hell gat hold on him.Thence back again far'd theythosefellows of old.With many a young one, from their wayfaring

merry,Full proud from the mere-side on mares there

a-ridingThe warriors on white steeds. There then was

of BeowulfSet forth the might mighty ; oft quoth it a manyThat nor northward nor southward beside the

twin sea-floods, ,Over all the huge earth's face now never a,nother.Never under the heaven's breadth, was there a

better, 86oNor of wielders of war-shields a worthier of king-

ship;But neither their friendly lord bkm'd they one

whit,Hrothgar the glad, for good of kings was he.There whiles the warriors far-famed let leapTheir fair fallow horses and fare into flytingWhere unto them the earth-ways for fair-fashion'd

seemed.Through their choiceness well kenned ; and whilesa king's thane,A warrior vaunt-laden, of lays grown bemindful,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 5E'en he who all many of tales of the old daysA multitude minded, found other words also 87oSooth-bounden, and boldly the man thus beganE'en Beowulf's wayfare well wisely to stir,With good speed to set forth the spells well arededAnd to shift about words. And well of all told heThat he of Sigemund erst had heard say,Of the deeds of his might ; and many things

uncouthOf the strife of the Waelsing and his wide way-

farings,Of those that men's children not well yet they

wist.The feud and the crimes, save Fitela with himSomewhat of such things yet would he say, 880The eme to the nephew ; e'en as they aye wereIn all strife soever fellows full needfulAnd full many had they of the kin of the eotensLaid low with the sword. And to Sigemund up-

sprangAfter his death-day fair doom unlittleSithence that the war-hard the Worm there had

quelled.The herd of the hoard ; he under the hoar stone,The bairn of the Atheling, all alone dar'd it,That wight deed of deeds ; with him Fitela was

not.


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52 THE TALE OF BEOWULFBut howe'er, his hap was that the sword so through-

waded 890The Worm the all-wondrous, that in the wallstood

The iron dear-wrought : and the drake died themurder.

There had the warrior so won by wightness,That he of the ring-hoard the use might be

havingAll at his own will. The sea-boat he loaded,*And into the ship's barm bore the bright fretworkWaels' son. In the hotness the Worm was to-

molten.Now he of all wanderers was widely the greatestThrough the peoples of man-kind, the warder of

warriors, 899By mighty deeds ; erst then and early he throve.Now sithence the warfare of Heremod waned.His might and his valour, amidst of the eotensTo the wielding of foemen straight was he be-

trayed,And speedily sent forth : by the surges of sorrowO'er-long was he lam'd, became he to his lieges,To all of the athelings, a life-care thenceforward.Withal oft bemoaned in times that were olderThe ways of that stout heart many a carle of the

wisest.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 53Who trow'd in him boldly for booting of bales,And had look'd that the king's bairn should everbe thriving, 910His father's own lordship should take, hold the

folk.The hoard and the ward-burg, and realm of the

heroes.The own land of the Scyldings. To all men was

Beowulf,The" Hygelac's kinsman to the kindred of men-

folk.More fair unto friends ; but on Heremod crime

fell.So whiles the men flyting the fallow street

thereWith their mares were they meting. There then

was the morn-lightThrust forth and hasten'd ; went many a warriorAll hardy of heart to the high hall aloftThe rare wonder to see ; and the King's self

withal 920From the bride-bower wended, the warder of ring-

hoards,All glorious he trod and a mickle troop had he.He for choice ways beknown ; and his Queen

therewithalMeted the mead-path with a meyny of maidens.


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54 THE TALE OF BEOWULFXV. KING HROTHGAR AND HISTHANES LOOK ON THE ARM OFGRENDEL. CONVERSE BETWIXTHROTHGAR AND BEOWULF CON-CERNING THE BATTLE.OUT then spake Hrothgar; for he to thehall went,By the staple a-standing the steep roof he

sawShining fair with the gold, and the hand there of

GrendelFor this sight that I see to the All-wielderthanks

Befall now forthwith, for foul evil I bided.All griefs from this Grendel ; but God, glory's

Herder, 930Wonder on wonder ever can work.Unyore was it then when I for myselfMight ween never more, wide all through my

life-days,Of the booting of woes; when all blood-be-

sprinkledThe best of all houses stood sword-gory hereWide then had the woe thrust olF each of the

wiseOf them that were looking that never life-long


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 55That land-work of the folk they might ward

from the loathly,From ill wights and devils. But now hath awarrior

Through the might of the Lord a deed madethereunto 940

Which we, and all we together, in nowiseBy wisdom might work. What ! well might be

sayingThat maid whosoever this son brought to birthAccording to man's kind, if yet she be living.That the Maker of old time to her was all-

graciousIn the bearing of bairns. O Beowulf, I nowThee best of all men as a son unto meWill love in my heart, and hold thou henceforwardOur kinship new-made now ; nor to thee shall be

lackingAs to longings of world-goods whereof I have

wielding 950Full oft I for lesser things guerdon have given,The worship of hoards, to a warrior was weaker, IA worser in strife. Now thyself foi*-thyselfBy deeds hast thou fram'd it that liveth thy fair

fameFor ever and ever. So may the All-wielderWith good pay thee ever, as erst he hath done it.


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S6 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThen Beowulf spake out, the Ecgtheow's bairn

That work of much might with mickle of loveWe framed with fighting, and frowardly ventur'dThe might of the uncouth; now I would that

rather 96oThou mightest have look'd on the very man

there.The foe in his fret-gear all worn unto falling.There him in all haste with hard griping did IOn the slaughter-bed deem it to bind him indeed,That he for my hand-grip should have to be lyingAll busy for life : but his body fled off.Him then I might not (since would not theMaker)From his wayfaring sunder, nor naught so well

sought IThe life-foe ; o'er-mickle of might was he yet.The foeman afoot : but his hand has he left us, 970A life-ward, -a-warding the ways of his wending.His arm and his shoulder therewith. Yet in nowiseThat wretch of the grooms any solace hath got

him,Nor longer will live the loathly deed-doer,Beswinked with sins ; for the sore hath him nowIn the grip of need grievous, in strait hold to-

gather'dWith bonds that be baleful : there shall he abide,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 57That wight dyed with all evil-deeds, the doom

mickle,For what wise to him the bright Maker will

write it. 979Then a silenter man was the son there of Ecglaf

In the speech of the boasting ofworks of the battle,After when every atheling by craft of the earlOver the high roof had look'd on the hand there,Yea, the fiend's fingers before his own eyen.Each one of the nail-steads most like unto steel.Hand-spur of the heathen one ; yea, the own clawUncouth of the war-wight. But each one there

quoth it.That no iron of the best, of the hardy of folk,Would touch him at all, which e'er of the

monsterThe battle-hand bloody might bear away thence.

XVI. HROTHGAR GIVETH GIFTS TOBEOWULF.THEN was speedily bidden that Hart bewithinward 991By hand of man well adorn'd ; was there a

manyOf warriors and wives, who straightway that wine-

house,


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S8 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThe guest-house, bedight them : there gold-shotten

shoneThe webs over the walls, many wonders to look onFor men every one who on such things will stare.Was that building the bright all broken about

All withinward, though fast in the bands of theiron

Asunder the hinges rent, only the roof thereWas saved all sound, when the monster of evil loooThe guilty of crime-deeds had gat him to flightNever hoping for life. Nay, lightly now may notThat matter be fled from, frame it whoso may

frame it.But by strife man shall win of the bearers of souls,Of the children of men, compelled by need.The abiders on earth, the place made all ready,The stead where his body laid fast on his death-bedShall sleep after feast. Now time and place was itWhen unto the hall went that Healfdene's son,And the King himself therein the feast should be

sharing loioNever heard I of men-folk in fellowship moreAbout their wealth-giver so well themselves

bearing.Then bow'd unto bench there the abounders inriches

And were fain of their fill. Full fairly there took


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 59A many of mead-cups the kin of those men,The sturdy of heart in the hall high aloft,Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Hart there withinwardOf friends was fulfilled ; naught there that was

guilesomeThe folk of the Scyldings for yet awhile framed.

Gave then to Beowulf Healfdene's bairn 1020A golden war-ensign, the victory's guerdon,A staiF-banner fair-dight, a helm and a byrnyThe great jewel-sword a many men saw themBear forth to the hero. Then Beowulf tookThe cup on the floor, and nowise of that fee-giftBefore the shaft-shooters the shame need he have.Never heard I how friendlier four of the treasures.All gear'd with the gold about, many men erewhileOn the ale-bench have given to others of men.Round the roof of the helm, the burg of the head,A wale wound with wires held ward from without-ward, 1031So that the file-leavings might not over fiercely,Were they never so shower-hard, scathe the shield-

bold,When he 'gainst the angry in anger should get him.Therewith bade the earls' burg that eight of the

horsesWith cheek-plates adorned be led down the floorIn under the fences ; on one thereof stood


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6o THE TALE OF BEOWULFA saddle all craft-bedeck'd, seemly with treasure.That same was the war-seat of the high King fullsurely 1039Whenas that the sword-play that Healfdene's sonWould work ; never failed in front of the warThe wide-kenn'd one's war-might, whereas fell the

slain.So to Beowulf thereon of either of both

The Ingwines' high warder gave wielding to have,Both the war-steeds and weapons, and bade him

well brook them.Thuswise and so manly the mighty of princes,Hoard-warden of heroes, the battle-race paidWith mares and with gems, so as no man shall

blame them.E'en he who will say sooth aright as it is.

XVII. THEY FEAST IN HART. THEGLEEMAN SINGS OF FINN AND HEN-GEST.THEN the lord of the earl-folk to everyand each one 1050

Of them who with Beowulf the sea-wayshad worn

Then and there on the mead-bench did handselthem treasure.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 6An heir-loom to wit ; for him also he bade itThat a were-gild be paid, whom Grendel aforetimeBy wickedness quell'd, as far more of them would

he,Save from them God all-witting the weird away

wended,And that man's mood withal. But the Maker

all wieldedOf the kindred of mankind, as yet now he doeth.Therefore through-witting will be the best every-

whereAnd the forethought of mind. Many things must

abide loeoOf lief and of loth, he who here a long whileIn these days of the strife with the world shall be

dealing.There song was and sound all gather'd together

Of that Healfdene's warrior and wielder of battle,The wood of glee greeted, the lay wreaked often,Whenas the hall-game the minstrel of HrothgarAll down by the mead-bench tale must be making :By Finn's sons aforetime, when the fear gat

them.The hero of Half-Danes, Hnaef of the Scyldings,On the slaughter-field Frisian needs must he fail.Forsooth never Hildeburh needed to hery io7iThe troth of the Eotens ; she all unsinning


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62 THE TALE OF BEOWULFWas lorne of her lief ones in that play of the

linden,Her bairns and her brethren, by fate there they fellSpear-wounded. That was the all-woeful of

women.Not unduly without cause the daughter of HocMourn'd the Maker's own shaping, sithence came

the mornWhen she under the heavens that tide came to see,Murder-bale of her kinsmen, where most had she

erewhile 1079Of world's bliss. The war-tide took all men awayOf Finn's thanes that were, save only a fewE'en so that he might not on the field of the

meetingHold Hengest a war-tide, or fight any whit.Nor yet snatch away thence by war the woe-

leavingsFrom the thane of the King ; but terms now they

bade himThat for them other stead all for all should make

room,A hall and high settle, whereof the half-wieldingThey with the Eotens' bairns henceforth might

hold.And with fee-gifts moreover the son of FolkwaldaEach day of the days the Danes should beworthy


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 63The war-heap of Hengest with rings should he

honour 1091Even so greatly with treasure of treasures,Of gold all beplated, as he the kin FrisianDown in the beer-hall duly should dight.Troth then they struck there each of the two

halves,A peace-troth full fast. There Finn unto Efen-gest

Strongly, unstrifeful, with oath-swearing swore,That he the woe-leaving by the doom of the wise

onesShould hold in all honour, that never man hence-

forthWith word or with work the troth should be

breaking, 1100Nor through craft of the guileful should undo it

ever.Though their ring-giver's bane they must followin rank

All lordless, e'en so need is it to be :But if any of Frisians by over-bold speakingThe murderful hatred should call unto mind.Then naught but the edge of the sword should

avenge it.Then done was the oath there, and gold of the

golden


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64 THE TALE OF BEOWULFHeav'd up from the hoard. Of the bold Here-

ScyldingsAll yare on the bale was the best battle-warriorOn the death-howe beholden was easily there 1110The sark stain'd with war-sweat, the all-golden

swine,The iron-hard boar ; there was many an athelingWith wounds all outworn ; some on slaughter-

field welter'd.But Hildeburh therewith on Hnaef's bale she bade

themThe own son of herself to set fast in the flame.His bone-vats to burn up and lay on the bale there :On his shoulder all woeful the woman lamented,Sang songs of bewailing, as the warrior strode

upward,Wound up to the welkin that most of death-fires.Before the howe howled ; there molten the heads

were, 1120The wound-gates burst open, there blood was out-

springingFrom foe-bites of the body ; the flame swallow'd

all.

The greediest of ghosts, of them that war gathimOf either of folks ; shaken off was their life-

breath.


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 65XVIII. THE ENDING OF THE TALE OFFINN.DEPARTED the warriors their wicks to

visitAll forlorn of their friends now, Friesland

to look on,Their homes and their high burg. Hengest a

while yetThrough the slaughter-dyed winter bode dwelling

with FinnAnd all without strife : he remember'd his home-

land,Though never he might o'er the mere be

a-driving 1130The high prow be-ringed : with storm the holm

welter'd,

Won war 'gainst the winds; winter locked thewavesWith bondage of ice, till again came anotherOf years into the garth, as yet it is ever,And the days which the season to watch never

cease,The glory-bright weather; then gone was the

winter,And fair was the earth's barm. Now hasten'd

the exile,


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66 THE TALE OF BEOWULFThe guest from the garths ; he on getting of

vengeanceOf harms thought more greatly than of the sea'shighway,

If he but a wrath-mote niiight yet be a-wendingWhere the bairns of the Eotens might he still

remember. 1141The ways of the world forwent he in nowiseThen, whenas Hunlafing the light of the battle,The best of all bills, did into his breast.Whereof mid the Eotens were the edges well

knowen.Withal to the bold-hearted Finn befell afterSword-bales the deadly at his very own dwell-

ing,When the grim grip of war Guthlaf and OslafAfter the sea-fare lamented with sorrowAnd wyted him deal of their woes ; nor then

might he 1150In his breast hold his wavering heart. Was the

hall dightWith the lives of slain foemen, and slain eke was

FinnThe King 'midst of his court-men ; and there

the Queen, taken.The shooters of the Scyldings ferry'd down to

the sea-ships,


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 67And the house-wares and chattels the earth-king

had had,E'en such as at Finn's home there might they

find,Of collars and cunning gems. They on the sea-

pathThe all-lordly wife to the Danes straightly

wended,Led her home to their people. So sung was the

lay.The song of the gleeman ; then again arose

game, 1160The bench-voice wax'd brighter, gave forth the

birlersWine of the wonder-vats. Then came forth

WealhtheowUnder gold ring a-going to where sat the two

good ones,The uncle and nephew, yet of kindred unsunder'd.Each true to the other. Eke Unferth the spokes-

manSat at feet of the Scyldings' lord ; each of his heart

trow'dThat of mickle mood was he, though he to his

kinsmenWere un-upright in edge-play. Spake the dame

of the Scyldings


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68 THE TALE OF BEOWULFNow take thou this cup, my lord of the kingly,

Bestower of treasures ! Be thou in thy joyance.Thou gold-friend of men! and speak to theseGeat-folk nn

In mild words, as duly behoveth to doBe glad toward the Geat-folk, and mindful of

giftsFrom anigh and from far peace hast thou as now.To me one hath said it, that thou for a son

wouldstThis warrior be holding. Lo! Hart now is

cleansed,The ring-hall bright-beaming. Have joy whilethou mayestIn many a meed, and unto thy kinsmenLeave folk and dominion, when forth thou must

fareTo look on the Maker's own making. I know

now 1180My Hrothulf the gladsome, that he this youngman

Will hold in all honour if thou now before him,friend of the Scyldings, shall fare from theworld

1 ween that good-will yet this man will be yield-ing

To our offspring that after us be, if he mind him


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THE TALE OF BEOWULF 69Of all that which we two, for good-will and for

worship,Unto him erst a child yet have framed of kindness.Then along by the bench did she turn, where

her boys were,Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the bairns of high

warriors.The young ones together ; and there sat the good

one, 1190Beowulf the Geat, betwixt the two brethren.

XIX. MORE GIFTS ARE GIVEN TOBEOWULF. THE BRIBING COLLARTOLD OF.BORNE to him then the cup was, and there-

with friendly biddingIn words was put forth ; and gold aboutwounden

All blithely they bade him bear; arm-gearingstwain.

Rail and rings, the most greatest of fashion ofneck-rings

Of them that on earth I have ever heard tell of:Not one under heaven wrought better was heard ofMidst the hoard-gems of heroes, since bore away

Hama


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yo THE TALE OF BEOWULFTo the bright burg and brave the neck-gear of

th

the tale of beowulf sometime king of the folk of the weder geats tr by william mottis and aj wyatt...

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